There is a lack of “soul care” for men in the church.  More time is spent on the boundaries or circumference of our lives – thinking, managing, and trying to address issues in the church.  Instead of aiming at the soul, however, we tinker with religious performance, programs and activities.  I join the voices crying out in our contemporary spiritual wilderness for men to pay attention to their souls. This involves the “inner journey” to the center.  It is a call to what Augustine and Calvin called “the double knowledge” of “knowing God and knowing ourselves.”   

Moses sent 12 spies, one from each tribe, to explore the Promised Land and come back with a report.  Ten spies came back with the majority report, saying, “The people who live there are powerful and the cities are fortified and very strong.  We even saw descendants of Anak [giants] there” (Num. 13:28).  As a result, they, “spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored” (Num. 13:32). 

The people complained, “Where can we go?  Our brothers have made us lose heart.  They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller that we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky; we even saw the Anakites there'” (Deut. 1:28).  Moses pleaded with them, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them.  The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert.  There you saw how the Lord your God carried you as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place” (Deut. 1:29-31). 

Caleb and Joshua, however, brought back a minority report.  After quieting the people, Caleb declared, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Num. 13:30).  Joshua then declared to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good … do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up.  Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us.  “Do not be afraid of them” (Num. 14:7-9).   Because of their positive report, God declared Caleb and Joshua would survive the plague that brought death to the 10 spies who brought back the bad report.

My concern is that we are paying too much attention to a majority report about “giants” in the land. For men, many of our giants are not without but within: overeating, addictions, sexual fantasy, pornography, fear, shame, inner wounds, etc.  I think you get the idea. 

These are the giants we need to face and defeat.  But we need groups of men who believe in “soul care.”  We cannot conquer these inner giants alone.  This battle takes time.  It will be a process.  We need brothers to stick with us as we face the giants.

Concerning the Israelites who believed the majority report, God said, “Not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers.  No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.  But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land…”(Num. 14:23-24).  I pray that you will join me in striving to be a Caleb.  Men need encouragement, not to flee from or deny their inner giants, but to be willing to fight the good fight with other brothers.   

Suggested application: Seek out that kind of group – and don’t quit till you find it.

Some of you may remember the haunting song by Gordon Lightfoot entitled, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” (1976).  It is a ballad about an iron ore freighter sinking off of Lake Superior’s Whitefish Bay on Nov. 10, 1975.  All 29 crews member were lost in the midst of hurricane winds that caused 35′ waves.  The last words from Captain Ernest McSorley were, “We are holding our own.”  

I preached recently on Jesus walking on the water (Matt 14:22-33).  Our nation is experiencing cultural storms while policy makers and cultural influencers tell us, “We are holding our own.” Meanwhile, the storm only seems to intensify.  Are we aware of Jesus’ presence in the midst of the storm, confident he will help us navigate the treacherous waters?  Be warned: we are in the midst of a cultural storm.  

After feeding the five thousand, the crowd “intended to come and make him king by force, (John 6:35).  Jesus made his disciples get into a boat to go across to the other side.  Jesus didn’t want them overly influenced by “the dominant narrative” which, quite to the contrary, seems to imply, “we are holding our own.”  That was simply a lie, perpetuated by arrogant voices who say, “We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips – who is our master?” (Ps 12:4 NIV).    

Jesus then goes away alone to pray, because he knew his message was being misunderstood and misappropriated.  The crowd saw Jesus as a political savior. The Good News of Jesus bringing His kingdom reign was overridden in favor of a political narrative. While seeking guidance from his Father, a dangerous storm develops on the Sea of Galilee, where the boat (with his disciples) was being, “buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it” (Matt. 14:24).      

Jesus comes walking to them on the water between 3 and 6 in the morning.  The disciples did not recognize Jesus. “‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear” (Matt. 14:26). Jesus tells them, “Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  Men, ask yourself, “How would I respond to seeing a man walking on the water?” 

Is our trust in Jesus strong enough to weather the present storms? Or are we falling for a particular narrative?  In another incident, during a storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus, “rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm” (Mark 4:39).  Men, if Jesus can calm nature in its fury, he can handle the storms caused by “the dominant narrative” so they don’t overwhelm us.  Why?  Because he is Lord.

What do you think the twelve men in the boat learned about Jesus when he go back into the boat during the storm?  This occurred after the disciples witnessed Peter getting out of the boat and beginning to sink.  Jesus rescued him.  “And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.  Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God” (Matt. 14:32-33). This is the first recorded instance that they worshipped Jesus as the Son of God. 

It seems to me, the disciples learned a new trust in Jesus caring for them – regardless of the circumstances.  Don’t believe the lie that “we are holding our own.”  Put your trust in the One who actually can calm the turbulent waters of this world and your heart.  One more note: Make sure you are in a boat with other believers. You cannot manage the storm alone. 

Recently, Judy and I celebrated my 80th birthday with my sister in Northern Michigan (UP), where I was born and raised by my Finnish parents.  Having left home when I was 18, venturing out to California, coming to faith at a Bible school and meeting my “Rachel” at the well, reaching 80 is a milestone both physically and spiritually.

I now have a longer view of history in which to celebrate and share the mercy and goodness of the Lord. I always told my family, “I’m shooting for 80.”  Now that I have made it, I still have some spiritual “juice” left in my tank.  Physically, I am slowing down, but spiritually and mentally I am feeling strong. 

Psalm 92:12-15 is marked “old age” in my Bible: “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.  They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green (Psalm 92:12-15).  O Lord, keep my spirit open  so I don’t get brittle and worn out.  May your Spirit keep me fresh and green.  I want to flow in the power of your Spirit, flourishing in my 80’s. Help me to “leave it all out on the spiritual field” for You.  

Deut. 34:7 tells us, “Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever.”  Moses didn’t stay forever youthful.  But he did stay useful and faithful to God.  Is. 46:4 is also marked “in old age.”  “Even in your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”  I thank you, Lord, for carrying me this far on the journey, sustaining and rescuing me through all these years.  

I want to sing, praise, and even shout with Jeremiah when he declares, “But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.  They’re created new every morning.  How great your faithfulness!  I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).  He’s all I’ve got left” (Lam. 3:21b-24 Message). At 80 I can let it all out, because He is all I have left.  Praise you Jesus; I just want to tell of your faithfulness to a generation without a lot of hope. 

We might all pray with the Psalmist, “Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone” (Ps 71:9). The psalmist later shares a wonderful testimony that we can embrace whenever we begin the last leg of our individual journeys. “O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.  Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God.  Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me” (Ps 71:17-18 NLT). 

As we all draw closer to our eternal home, let us be “at home in his love.”  “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me.  Make yourselves at home in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love.  That’s what I’ve done – keep my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love” (John 15:9-10 Message).